Date:  10/2015-2017

Services:  Cabinetry, CAD, 12V Electrical, Fabrication, Machining, Mechanic, Metalwork, Plumbing, Research, Sketching, Small Space Design, Sourcing, Woodworking

Client:  Personal Project

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About:  Fulfilled my lifelong goal of having my very own custom camper van. Found a rare last model year Astro AWD with almost 90k miles and zero rust. I've always been fascinated with efficient, high-quality small spaces. Built on long nights after work and weekends when time allowed, I was able to apply so many of my skills into one project. It is to serve as a road trip and base camp vehicle to further explore our amazing country. All of the capacities (Water, Electricity, Food, Clothing Storage/Cleaning) are designed to last off-grid for at least 5 days for my now Wife, dog and I. It's off-road chops gets to some of the most beautiful camps. Always preferring State Forest Land/BLM free camping without any facilities. The perfect base camp for hiking, fly fishing, climbing, kayaking, cooking, and all-around exploring. Down to every little detail of how we camp and live has been brought into the build. I took my backpacking gram-counting-spreadsheet principles into making a very intentional layout—never excess. Keeping a detailed spreadsheet ensures I never over-pack nor forget anything.

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Key Features:  AWD, Lifted Suspension, 245/75-16 BFGoodrich A/T KO2 Tires, Upgraded Stereo, 220A High Output Alternator, Big Three Electrical Upgrade with 0 Gauge OFC Wiring, Automatic Charging Relay, Insulated (Roof, Walls and Floor), Tinted Windows, Swivel Passenger Chair, Marine Grade Subfloor, Baltic Birch Cabinetry, Dovetailed Birch Drawers, Stainless Sink/Faucet with On-Demand Water Pump, Outside Shower, 34 Quart Refrigerator, Maxxair Fan, 80/20 Aluminum Extrusion Structures, Vinyl Flooring, 316 Stainless Hardware throughout, On-Board Charger, Fuse Block and Breaker for Camper Systems, VMAX 310Ah AGM Camper Batteries (2 @ 155Ah), Hidden (license plate) Charging Port to 20A 7 Stage Smart Battery Charger / Maintainer, 20 Gallon Fresh Water Tank, 2.5 Gallon Grey Water Tank, Heavy Duty Roof Rack, Eezi Awn Swift Awning, Recessed Lighting (2 for living space on switch, 2 for kitchen on switch).

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About: Found a rare last model year Chevrolet Astro AWD with almost 90k miles and zero rust; paid over $10k for this immaculate specimen in 2015. Desirable 03-05 last model years, 2005 being the last year made. All of the capacities (Water, Electricity, Food, Clothing Storage/Cleaning) are designed to last off-grid for at least 5 days for 2 people. Its off-road chops gets to some of the most beautiful camps. Always preferring State Forest Land/BLM free camping without any facilities. The perfect base camp for hiking, fly fishing, climbing, kayaking, cooking, and all-around exploring. Down to every little detail of my own efficient camping style has been brought into the build. I took my backpacking gram-counting-spreadsheet principles into making a very intentional layout—never excess. Keeping a detailed spreadsheet ensures I never over-pack nor forget anything. New Product Development - Engineering and Industrial Design professionally, assistance from my Master Mechanic father on some of the more involved vehicle maintenance.

 

Some Key Features in my no-expense-spared build (way too many to list):

AWD
OverlandVans 4” Lifted Suspension
245/75-16 BFGoodrich A/T KO2 Tires
Kenwood Bluetooth Apt-X Stereo with mic at headliner
Powermaster 220A High Output Alternator
Big Three Electrical Upgrade with 0 Gauge OFC High-End Wiring
Blue Sea Systems Automatic Charging Relay with remote override (ML-ACR)
Blue Sea Systems Fuse Block Terminals
EZ-Cool Insulated (Roof, Walls and Floor)
Lifetime Warranty Tinted Windows
Reflectix cut for each window to add extra insulation if desired (always use windshield for privacy) Swivel Passenger Captains Chair
Marine Grade Subfloor
Ancor Marine Grade Wiring, connectors and clamps throughout (everything Blue Sea and Ancor)
Baltic Birch Cabinetry
Beech/Birch Sprung Bed Slats
Main Bed (69” long) with Hammock Second Bed (have another design that a second longer bed would fold off the top of the main if two beds were required... the extension would lay overtop of the passenger’s chair when rotated towards the rear). Could use fridge to extend the top of the bed, so you could conceivably add a decent amount of length creatively, 7 feet in total to be exact. I’ve slept here comfortably at 5’ 11” but generally my wife slept in the bed and me in the hammock. This gives a nice large “living space.”
Dovetailed Solid Birch Drawers
Blum BLUMOTION Full-Extension Soft-Close slides on all drawers (under bed, kitchen)
Stainless Sink/Faucet with low-flow water-saving inserts
On-Demand SHURflo Water Pump
Outside Shower (stealth hook-up) with quick connect (use quick pop shower tent)
34 Quart Dometic Refrigerator / Freezer CFX-35US
Maxxair Deluxe 7500K Fan with remote and thermostat
80/20 Aluminum Extrusion Structures
Armstrong Highest-End Vinyl Flooring
316 Stainless Hardware throughout
Blue Sea Systems Fuse Block and Breaker for Camper Systems
Blue Sea Systems M2 OLED DC SOC Meter (State of Charge Meter)
Blue Sea high-output Dual USB
Water Pump Over-ride switch
easily removable water pump for winterizing on bracket
High-end Colder water couplings throughout (mostly normally closed variety)
Water fill port (to left of fridge accessible from back hatch), vented
All tubing/wiring/plumbing highest quality
VMAX 310Ah AGM Camper Batteries (2 @ 155Ah) (over rear axle)
Hidden (license plate) Charging Port to On-Board Charger 20A 7 Stage Smart Battery Charger / Maintainer
20 Gallon Fresh Water Tank (over rear axle)
2.5 Gallon Grey Water Tank
Heavy Duty VanTech Roof Rack J1000 55” (3 bars)
Eezi Awn Swift Awning
Sylvania Silverstar ZXE headlights (Rigid LED's were always in the plans for auxiliary)
Recessed LED Warm (spectrum for not attracting bugs) Lighting (2 for living space on blue sea switch, 2 for kitchen on blue sea switch)
reading LED light
TPMS digital display pressure and temperature monitor system
List goes on and on…

Just about everything mechanically on the van has been replaced and maintained. All parts are ACDelco (spent the extra money here as it counts). Over $15k in materials alone, plus 500 some-odd hours into this meticulous conversion. I have service history, every build material and component receipt and manual, spreadsheets, etc. I have several new parts also on my to-do list I’d include. All oil changes with Delco oil filters and Mobil 1 Full Synthetic every 5k miles. Extremely balanced and drives like a dream both off-road and on long highway jaunts. I’ll need to update the post with service records and such as time permits. Needs nothing, just did a new muffler and tailpipe, motor mounts, transmission mount, oil pan, AC re-charge, vacuum lines, air idler valve to give you an idea. Have any original parts not used in conversion from original 8 passenger configuration including two bench seats.

Currently 105,369 original miles. Asking $39k or best serious offer. I know this is for a special niche buyer. Compare to other van builds that cost WAY more and are lower quality. Let's please keep this post clean and PM me regarding any disagreement in listed price, serious offer inquiries or other. Located in Upper Bucks County (Eastern) Pennsylvania.

If seriously interested I'm happy to do a video call to give you a tour or any other information you may need!

Reason for selling? Quite simply, my family is growing (just had a little-one) and likely moving to a Jeep Gladiator or JLU build next. The van would have to be completely reconfigured and really don't want to dismantle all the work that has been done.

Please see my website https://mlkolb.wixsite.com/stromad/campervan-conversion-build for all of the documented build photos and more photos in action (hundreds), although I admit my “final” photos are seriously lacking and plan to get those done in the near future to really showcase this one-of-a-kind build (I just enjoy when I camp and never remember to take some good photos of the rig in action.